# NTSB BFO88FA010: Swearingen SA-226, N23AZ, Chantilly, VA, December 18, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 17, 1987, 19:36 local (Dec 18, 1987, 00:36 UTC)
- Place: Chantilly, VA
- Location: 38.8866° N, 77.4558° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8866&lon=-77.4558&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 5, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11355
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88FA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11355/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88FA010

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - all engines
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - anti-ice/deice system - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate initial training, check pilot (cause)
  - inadequate certification/approval,airman, company/operator mgmt (cause)
  - wing,skin - ice (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT HAD DESCENDED THROUGH A CLOUD LAYER ENROUTE FOR THE SCHEDULED LNDG AT IAD AND ACCORDING TO THE CREW HAD PICKED UP SOME TRACE RIME ICE ON ITS WING SURFACES. ALTHOUGH PITOT AND SAS (STALL AVOIDANCE SYSTEM) HEAT WERE USED THE CAPTAIN ELECTED NOT TO USE ENGINE INLET ANTI-ICE. JUST INSIDE THE OUTER MARKER THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE CAPTAIN WAS ABLE TO SET THE ACFT DOWN IN AN OPEN FIELD WHERE THE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE ENGINES WERE SUCCESSFULLY RUN-UP AT THE GARRETT FACILITY. THE FLT MANUAL CONTAINS A WARNING AND A NOTE STATING THAT ENGINE HEAT AND CONTINUOUS IGNITION MUST BE USED AFTER LEAVING ICING CONDITIONS UNTIL THE PLT IS CONFIDENT THAT ANY SIGNIFICANT RESIDUAL ICE WILL NOT BE INJESTED INTO THE ENGINES. ICE WAS FOUND LYING BENEATH THE RT WING WHICH MATCHED THE CURVATURE OF THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WING. A ROUND CONICAL SHAPED PIECE OF ICE WAS FOUND ALONG THE WRECKAGE PATH WHICH MATCHED THE NOSE OF THE PROPELLER SPINNER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23AZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23AZ-1991-04-30), registration cancelled 1991-04-30, S/N TC260 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-226
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA226TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226tc) (registry code 8780404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-260
- Airframe hours: 12820
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331-I0UA-5 840 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Avair Incorporated, doing business as Air Virginia
- Registered owner: Surburban Funding Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 10, 1987, 38 hours before
- Departed: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Destination: IAD, CHANTILLY, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAD, Washington/Dulles Intl, runway 1R, 11,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,200 total, 400 in this make and model, 7,080 as pilot in command, 142 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD, 4 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19871217079299I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871217079299I), Dec 17, 1987: Swrngn SA226TC, Washington, DC, Minor damage. Lost power on both engines on climb out. Landed in an open field four miles from airport.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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